344 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



As a weather-glass, the instrument promises to be also very useful, as, 

 without a knowledge of the hygrometrical condition of the atmosphere, the 

 barometer is of little service. 



The instrument, as exhibited by Mr. Vivian, although imperfectly and 

 hastily constructed, appeared highly deserving of especial notice, and re- 

 ceived an honorable mention, as it well deserved ; for hitherto, we believe, 

 there has been no instrument for registering the extremes of dryness or 

 moisture — a point of the utmost importance in exotic culture. 



We understand that perfect instruments are nearly ready for sale, and 

 we fully anticipate their being soon regarded as not less essential in gar- 

 dens than the thermometer itself. No care being required in their use, 

 nor any quick and dextrous observation, the indications of Mr. Vivian's 

 hygrometer may be read off with as much facility as those of the thermom- 

 eter itself, which is a point greatly in its favor. — [Gard. Chron. 1855, 

 p. 355.) 



Bedding Plants and Bottom Heat. — The remark recently made by 

 the writer of the Calendar relative to the propriety of planting out strong 

 plants in June rather than weak plants in May, is very judicious in a sea- 

 son like the present, when the ground temperature is excessively low, and 

 when, too, in many instances from the losses of the winter, plants are not 

 so strong as they are wont to be in more favorable seasons. I have fre- 

 quently, both privately and publicly, pointed out the impropriety of early 

 planting, that is before the 20th of May, and, except in very rare situations 

 and in the case of unusually forward springs, I am quite convinced that 

 there is not a day gained by planting before the first week in June. I have 

 had several thousands of geraniums and other plants bedded out since the 

 middle of April, but they are standing on sheltered south and west borders, 

 and have been nightly, and sometimes during the day too, covered with 

 spruce branches and mats, to protect them from the severity of the weather. 

 These plants look well, are making root, have healthy green foliage, and 

 have quite recovered the check they experienced at the time of putting out ; 

 but had they been planted in the flower garden at the same time, their safe 

 protection would have been far more difficult, and the nuisance of the pro- 

 tecting material in a dressed garden quite intolerable. The advantages of 

 this system of bedding out all established plants are very great ; for you 

 not only get a plant with an improved constitution, but one third of the pots 

 necessary under other circumstances will be found quite sufficient. The 

 trouble of planting and transplanting will of course be urged as an argu- 

 ment against the plan, by the advocates of the old system ; and though I 

 admit there is a good bit of trouble and time occupied, the saving in water- 

 ing more than counterbalances it, while the rapid progress the plants make 

 is another decided advantage. Cold as the weather has been, these plants 

 I find are making root into an inch or two of leafy dung which was placed 

 under them, and I have no doubt that they will remove to the flower beds 

 almost without sustaining any check, and will be in bloom in a week or 

 two without presenting any of that rusty appearance so general in newly- 

 planted things. 



